Page 67 of Bumping into You

“But you haven’t said anything,” says Holly, “so, now we’re asking you.”

“How did you know the paper belonged to me?” I ask.

“That’s easy,” says Holly. “I found it on the floor outside your room. I wasn’t sure it was yours, but then I saw you and Niall in the laser tag arena. . . .”

I freeze, growing red at the announcement.Oh no, Holly saw the kiss.

Margot looks back and forth between me to Holly. “What happened during laser tag? I miss all the juicy gossip!”

“It sure did look juicy,” says Holly before giggling.

“Truth is,” I say, “I don’t even know where to start.”

“The beginning is always a good place,” says Margot.

“You’re hilarious,” I say.

“Really, G,” says Holly, “what’s going on? You know we’re here to help you through anything, so how did this fake-dating thing happen?”

The looks on Holly’s and Margot’s face are so earnest and trustworthy that I end up spilling everything to them. From the first run-in with the non-rideshare to seeing Bradley and Tammy to Niall playing along as my fake boyfriend to deciding to be in a fake relationship for the rest of the cruise. And finally, to Niall’s confession last night and the decision I have to make.

“Wow, that’s huge,” says Margot.

“I know,” I say, “it was just supposed to be him pretending to date me around Bradley and Tammy, but obviously, a lot has happened with us since then. And now, with Niall’s confession, everything’s changed.”

“It makes so much sense now,” says Margot, “why Bradley’s seemed so annoyed around Niall and why Niall has been sticking so close to you.”

“But please don’t tell the guys,” I say. “I don’t know how Greg and Trent will take the fake dating, let alone Niall having feelings for me. Unless you’ve already told them?” Panic courses through me at the thought of it.

Margot shakes her head.

“No,” says Holly, “I haven’t talked to Greg yet. I wanted to see what you had to say first.”

“Okay, good,” I say. “I don’t want to deal with what Greg and Trent might think on top of trying to figure out what to do with Niall.”

“So,” asks Holly, “what are you going to do about Niall?”

“I honestly have no idea yet,” I say.

Chapter 28

Niall

I haven’t talked to Gwen since last night, which has been keeping me on edge. The unknown is a heavy weight sitting on my chest.

I hope I didn’t unsettle her when I told her how I felt last night. But when the realization that I was falling for her hit me, I had to say something. I’ve learned the hard way that life is too short to let moments slip by. Waiting might mean missing out on something extraordinary.

Today, we are at Mambo Beach. The waters are calm and tranquil with the rocks stopping the current from coming through to a little lagoon. The sun hangs high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the sandy shore. A gentle breeze carries the calming scent of the saltwater as the sounds of laughter scatter around us. Umbrellas and colorful towels dot the beach, forming a cozy haven of relaxation and family fun.

Maggie doesn’t waste a second in building a sandcastle, Miles and Gillian setting down their beach gear before joining her. Waves crash to the shore in an unpredictable ebb and flow, leaving a trail of shells in their wake. Vivian settles herself in a lounge chair next to her parents, who’ve already claimed their spots, and immediately plugs in some earbuds and lays back.

Greg, Trent, Margot, and Holly start a game of frisbee. I lay out my towel on the lounge chair next to Gwen. Taking a deep breath to ease my racing heart, I lean down next to her and whisper, “Would you like to go out to dinner tonight?”

She pulls down her sunglasses a bit, staring at me, her eyes a fusion of warm earthy tones with hints of green and gold. She radiates a quiet intensity in her gaze. A few heartbeats pass before she answers, “Yes, that would be nice.”

My heart, having frozen in time while waiting for her answer, skips a few beats at her affirmation. This has to be a good sign, right?

I sit next to her and watch the others from the cruise along the beach. My natural instinct is to be on alert and consistently assess my surroundings. However, today is a perfect day with calm waters, barely a cloud in the sky.

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